Well, it's my own darn fault - I asked for it. My last blog entry I fumed and fussed because I couldn't find a domestic challenge to write about it. Luckily, my prayers were answered.I've had a pretty interesting week, what with my being partiallly paralyzed and all. And, I got to meet a whole set of new characters in my life: chiropractors.Dr. A is a very nice man who kindly slipped my disc back into place after much weeping and gnashing of teeth (and that was just him; I apologized and passed the Kleenex). His office assured me that why, yes, they did accept Red Rose City health insurance. Approaching the third visit, they clarified, explaining they did accept Red Rose City health insurance, but not Red-Dot Red Rose City health insurance.Yeeshkabiddle.

I called the Red-Dot Red Rose City health insurance 800 number, where I wasted a portion of my lifetime that will never be reclaimed. They confirmed; Dr. A's office is correct but if I went onto the www.MyRedRoseCity.com website, I would find a listing of covered chiropractors in my area.

I live in Lancaster, PA – and while I love it, it is not exactly Mecca insofar as some health practices are concerned (ie. if you're into acupuncture or Reiki; be prepared to travel.)

I came upon my listings – all two of them. The first of which I recognized from having driven past; it lies between what portends to be a sports bar and what pretends to be a massage salon. Uh; pass thanks.The remaining practice is just up the road from me. Oh, goodie!I limp into the office with a gait that would make Quasimoto eligible for Swan Lake. I fill out the 700-page questionnaire (why does this doctor feel it necessary to inquire as to whether or not I've had a happy childhood? Has anyone?)I look about and realize somewhat acutely – along with my back pain – that yessiree Bob, I do live in Lancaster. WWJD posters, books, magazined, pamphlets, Bibles abound. This is not too unusual because Lancaster is well known as the Eastern Bible (thumping) Belt. It's a lot like driving through our bucolic countryside only to find it reeks of Amish fertilizer – at first, it's offensive. After awhile, you get used to it. However, I was not prepared for the Musak station to be tuned into the Rush Limbaugh of Bible Thumpers. The nerve pinch my character Mina Kitchen feels at acute moments of crisis has NOTHING on this. I worried – am I turning into my character? Am I becoming Brundle-Fly?I was led into an exam room where, in keeping with tradition, I waited for half my lifetime. This at least was normal, so it soothed me. Things were looking up. So I looked up. There, plastered across the ceiling above the exam table were WWJD posters, cards, and other sentiments, along with a dried up Palm Sunday Cross made from, ummm, dried up Palm Sunday palms.

A nurse eventually came in (presumably after she gave birth to her third child) and took my blood pressure: it was 189 over something else ludicrous.The only time my blood pressure reaches this elevation is during dental visits (which I find odd because I LOVE my dentist – she grows fabuilous orchids and is a cat lover; what's not to like?) But somewhere back in my brain's developmental stages things got hardwired to interpret dentist = RUN.

So, I chalk up my elevated BP with my loathing of Bible thumping during non-Bible thumping hours. Like when my vertebrae is about to be snapped inbetween someone else's fingers.Don't get me wrong – I'm a card carrying Episocopalean (really; once I transitioned from Reformed Dutch Protestant to Episcopalean, they gave me a card. It's on a magnet on our refrigerator – honest.) So, ostensibly I share the same basic faith as Dr. B.

However, I'm not so much for cross-pollinization of sins. Example: when I go to church, I don't expect to find dental floss and a packet reviling me of all my dental flaws in the pew. In short – I don't want one-stop-shopping for my dental/spiritual issues.At this point I realize there will be many who will be jumping up and shouting, “Yes, but if you address your spiritual issues, your teeth will be whiter!” That may very well be. However, I'd like a little forewarning – and a choice, thank you very much.“Come to Dr. Snap N Crack – When Your Spirit Ails You, We'll Bring You Back (and so will Jesus upon the Second Coming)” Now, that would be honest advertising.WWID? (that is, What Will I Do?) We'll see. I have an appointment with Dr. B. later in the week. If my head spins around and I spit pea soup across the room, I'll be a little concerned. Of course, that could unspiral my spine - so there's an upside.

Last Friday I was lucky enough to have yet another wonderful book signing; this time locally at Aaron's Books, Main Street in Lititz "Pee-ay." En route there, I was lamenting to myself about my blog inertia; finding nothing to inspire me for a new post, etc. when luckily I found myself in a car accident.Note to authors: fender benders en route to book signing is not advisable.Thankfully the poor soul in front of me, who I slid into, didn't suffer a knick on her car. Unluckily for Sophie Sebring; she's is now the shop for a week getting mended with about $3,200 worth of repairs. So while she's being fixed, this week I have Soul. Specifically, a rental KIA Soul. Who knew?As for future book signings - the future book, the sequel to Kitchen Addiction! is about half-way thru its first draft - titled Confection Connection.So, aside from novel writing, book signings and wrecking my car on the weekends, I'm getting back into the practice of cooking our meals for the week in the hopes that re-heating leftovers is quicker than preparing dinner each night, and we might actually eat before 10:00 p.m. This week's fare consists of white turkey chili with canned chipotle peppers; pork and sauerkraut and cabbage casserole; and for our early Valentine's Day dinner celebrated last Saturday evening, bouillabaisse - which I actually went thru the trouble to concoct the rouille that every single recipe I read RAVED about. Served the soup in bowls, smelled heavenly. Added the bread spread with the rouille as instructed, and sincerely wished we hadn't. I'm sure it's good for something, aside from ruining a perfectly good fish soup. So, lessons learned. The other lesson being that using the insisted upon saffron was a complete waste. Although I did include the prescribed fennel feel by using fennel seeds; was a nice twist.So, we learned that we prefer my rendition of "Killer Shrimp Soup" to make a bouillabaisse. For anyone curious; this last time I used haddock and tilapia; calamari, shrimp and mussels. Pretty simple; takes like a half an hour to make. Want this recipe? Or the others? Just email me: lizzlund.author@gmail.com. Happy Valentine's Day folks - hope everyone enjoys a warm meal and good company, with a little champagne and chocolate, for good measure!